Multiple fuse



Dec; 19, 1933. G. M L. COLE 1,939,663

MULTIPLE FUSE Filed July 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l fzz/eizz or- Gerard/7 L. 6016 Dec. 19, 1933. Mc| co 1,939,663

MULTIPLE FUSE Filed July 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gerard N Z. CbZG Pafe'nt'ediDec. 1 9 i933 I ITE s A TIES MULTIPLE FUSE Gerard McL. Cole, Chicago, Ill. 'a ssignor to Nathan Goldman, Chicagmlll.

Application July 1932. Serial No. 620,886

6 Claims. (01. 200-125) My invention relates to'fuse plugs of the type wherein a pluralityof fuse elements are so arranged that any fuse element may be placed in circuit without the. necessity of replacing the 5 entire fuse.

It is the principal purpose of my invention to provide a device ofthis character in which the parts ofthe fuse which are burned are arranged in separate explosion chambers away from the contact chamber wherein the movable contact engages the fuse element;

My invention also contemplates a novel construction forventing fuse chambers.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide in a device of this character a novel structure for making contact with the different fuse elements which structure also permits when a fuse has been blown. 1

My'invention also contemplates the provision of anovel chamber structure which so places the weakened part of the fuse element as to cause quick extinction of the are when the fuse is burned. p

I will describe the preferredform of my invenings wherein. h

Fig. 1 is a view of the top of the fuse with certain parts thereof broken away to illustrate the top structure;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a'section on the line 5-5 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the under side of the cap;

Fig. 7 isa perspective view of a mounting ring used in securing the fuse elements in place;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the main casing with the bottom closure removed; and

Fig- 9 is a perspective view of the bottom.- Referring now in detail to thedrawings, the main body part of the fuse consists of a casing 10 having therein, in the preferred form,fo'ur chambers such as 11, 12, 13, and 14 for four fuse elements. This casing is preferably molded and,

end of the casing and is non-rotatably interlocked one to see 1 chambers and have their lower terminalspass-.

tion by reference to the accompanying drawtherewith by means of the projections 20 and sockets 21 on the casing and bottomclosure respectively. The upper chamber 15 is closed by means of a cap 22 which is preferably of a transparent material, or at least has a portion: thereof transparent, for a purpose which will presently appear.

The casing 10, the bottom closure 19, and the cap 22 are held together by the center contact. element 23which element has a pin 24 extending through suitable openings 25 and 26in the bottom closure and easing respectively, and this pin 24 is. as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, bent over at' 27 in the cap or otherwise secured against detachment. .The end of the pin may be covered by a suitable insulating cement such as 28.

The/fuse elements 30 are located in various ing. through suitable guide grooves at the lower end of the casing 10 as indicated at 31 (see Figs. 2 and 8),and the .fuseelements are then bent upwardly-along the outside of the casing lo'where they contact with the shell contact 32. This'shell. contact has a lip at 33 fitting a shoulder on the tip element 19 and isscrew-threaded on the exterior of the casing 10 by means of the broken threads such as are indicated at 34. AtlBaSt one of the fuse elements is soldered to the screw shell 32 at 35 after the shell is mounted so'as to pre-- vent rotation of the shell. The otherend of the fuse element passes around the lip 1'1, and acrossthe shelf 16 beneath a transparent mica sheet'36 which lies tightly. against the tops ofthe fuse elements ,in'the bottom of the chamber. 15. The free ends of the fuse element are then' bent up and overthe ring 37 seated in the chamber 15 which ring is constructed of insulating material.

This ring 37 is shown in perspective in Fig. l

and, as shown, is notched at 38 to receive the fuse elements. The material of the ring at one side of .the notches 38 is inclined as indicated at 39 so as to enable a wiper contact 40 to slide off a fuse element seated in the notch 38 in one direction while the shoulderssuch as 41 opposite the inclined portions 39 are sufficiently high to prevent rotationof the arm 40 in the opposite direction. This ring 37 and the outer, rim of the chamber 15 have suitable projections and recesses such'as 42 and 43 to prevent rotation of the ring within the chamber 15. noted that around the central opening 26, the casing 10 is provided with the upstanding boss 44 in the center of the chamber 15, and fitted around this boss is another ring 45 which coop- It will be therewith. Contact arm 40 is also provided with an opening at 47 directly over the openings 18 through which the fuse elements 30pass so that, when the fuse blows at its weakenedpoint, the discoloration of the mica is clearly visible through this opening andreadily reveals the condition,

of thefuse element. V V

I have also provided a novel means for venting the fuse chambers. Each chamber, as shown clearly in Fig. 8, has leading therefrom a vent groove 48 which groove leads to the central projection 49 at the bottom-end of the casing. This projection extends into a recess 50 in the closure 19. The opening '25 is then made square or otherwise suitably grooved to allow escape ofv the gases downwardly from the recess 5,0, and the bottom end of the closure19 has a plurality of groovesas shown at 51 which allow the gases to escape laterally from the fuse. I

When the fusefelementisblown, it naturally discolors the mica sheet 36 directly over its weakened point, and the cover 22 is made transparent at least over the opening 47 so that one can see theldiscolorationonthe mica and thus know that thefuseat that point is blown. It is then only. necessary to turn the cap a quarter revolu tion a bring a new fuse into place. The'lips 17 at the point where the fuse elements are weak-, ened make it necessary for the are between the two burned ends'of the fuseto pass around this lip, and this results ina quick quenching of the arc and consequently a less violent explosion.

vFrom theabove description, it is believed that the 'construction'and advantages of this device will be clear to those skilled inthis art.

Having thus described one specific form of my invention, what I claim as new'and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: t

I A multiple fuse plug provided with a casing having a plurality .of explosion chambers arranged around a central axis and having a contact chamber at one end of said explosion chambers, a cap' for said contact chamber, said plug 1 contact chamber.

2. A multiple fuse plug provided with a casing having a plurality of explosion chambers arranged around a central axis and having a contact chamber at one end of said explosion chambers, a cap for said contact chamber, said plug having a closure member at the other end of said explosion chambers and having a center contact pin extending throughthe closure member, the casing and the cap to hold the parts, together, said plug having vent passages running from said ing and closure member and between the closure member and center pin. r

4. A multiple fuse plug provided with a casing having a plurality of explosion chambers arrangedaround a central axis and having a contact'chamber at one end of said explosion chambers, a cap for said contact chamber, said plug having a closure member at the other end of said explosion chambers and having a center contact pin extending through the closure member, the casing and the cap tohold the: parts together, fuse elements extending from the con- .tact chamber through the explosion chambers,

and a shell contact aroundthe plug with which the elements contact, said pin shaving .a-contact arm for engaging the fuse elements within the contact chamber, said plug having a partition between the explosion chambers and thecontact chamber. v

5. A multiple, fuse plug provided with a casing having a plurality of explosion chambers arranged around a central axis and having a contact chamber at one end of said explosion chambers, acapvfor said contact chamber, said plug having a closure member attheother end of said set explosion chambers and having a center contact pin extending through the closure *member, the

casing, and thecap to hold the parts together, 'fuse elements extending from the contactch'am her through the-explosion chamberaand a shell contact around theplug with which the elements contact, said pin having a contact arm forengaging the fuse elements Within the contact chamber, said plug having a transparent parti-' tion between the explosion chambers and the contact chamber, and said cap having means to render the partition visible therethrough for determiningthe condition of the fuse element.

6. A multiple fuse plug providedtwitha casing having a plurality of explosion chambers arranged around a' central axis and having a con tact ohamber at one end of said'explosion chambers, a cap for said contact chamber; said'plug having a closure member at the other end of said explosion chambers and. having a center contact pin extending'through' the closure'member, the casing, and, the cap to hold the :parts together, fuse-elementsextending from the contact chamber through the explosion chambers,

and a shell contact around the plug with which. the elements contact, said pin'having a contact arm for engaging the fuse elements within the contact chamber, said plug havinga partition between the explosion chambers and thevcontact chamber, and said cap having means to render ing when a fuse is blown;

GERARD VMCLQCOLE, 

